Dietary patterns, uric acid levels, and hyperuricemia: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: Studies investigating the effects of dietary intake on serum uric acid (SUA) and hyperuricemia have yielded inconsistent results. Therefore, we conducted a meta-analysis to assess the associations between various dietary patterns and SUA levels as well as hyperuricemia. Methods: We searched PubMed, Web of Science, and EMBASE databases for relevant articles examining the association between dietary intake and SUA levels and/or hyperuricemia published until March 2023. Dietary intake patterns were classified into plant-based, animal-based, and mixed dietary patterns based on predominant foods. The pooled effect sizes of eligible studies and their corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using random-effects models. Publication bias was assessed using Egger's test. Results: We included 41 studies, comprising 359 317 participants, that investigated the effects of dietary patterns on SUA levels (n = 25) and hyperuricemia (n = 19). Our findings suggested that a plant-based dietary pattern was associated with decreased SUA levels in both interventional (standard mean difference: -0.24 mg dL(-1), 95% CI: -0.42, -0.06; I-2 = 61.4%) and observational studies (odds ratio (OR): 0.92, 95% CI: 0.89, 0.95, I-2 = 91.1%); this association was stronger in men (OR: 0.45, 95% CI: 0.35, 0.58; I-2 = 0). We observed that plant- and animal-based dietary patterns were associated with a reduced risk (OR: 0.75; 95% CI: 0.67, 0.83, I-2 = 93.3%) and an increased risk (OR: 1.38; 95% CI: 1.20, 1.59, I-2 = 88.4%) of hyperuricemia, respectively. Conclusions: Collectively, a plant-based dietary pattern is negatively associated with SUA levels and hyperuricemia. Therefore, a plant-based dietary pattern should be recommended for the management of SUA levels and the prevention of hyperuricemia.